At last week’s League of Women Voters [and Harvard Press] debate, I was struck by the two candidates’ differences of opinion regarding extending the Devens sewer system. The Board of Selectmen, and various committees such as the Economic Development Committee, have maintained interest in figuring out how to enhance commercial development and while preventing rampant residential over-development.
The largest hurdles are the extremely high cost of running the lines from Devens to our commercial district, and the resistance of business owners to pay for these lines. These points were well articulated by Lucy Wallace.
Rhonda Sprague expressed interest in extending the sewer from Devens down Ayer Road, through Town Center, and down around the Pond. Let’s take a closer look.
First, what about the astronomical cost of doing this? Who’s going to pay for this? Who wants this?
Next, there is the issue of depleting our wells by transporting our water away from town and to the treatment plant. How do we recharge our ground water?
Finally, one significant “benefit” of a town-wide sewer system is that we could see as a result higher density housing than would be required if sewage is treated by individual septic systems. I watched it happen in New Jersey as a child. So in effect, we’d be opening up the entire town to residential and commercial development on a scale more like Acton. Why would this be a good thing for Harvard?
Rhonda Sprague says she wants to keep Harvard’s character. How does this jibe with opening the town to massive development—which is what such a sewer system would do?
Let us please do the right thing for the preservation of our town’s character. Vote for Lucy Wallace.
Stu Sklar
Scott Road
